31 January 2013 - Beckham Goes Blue

On 31 January 2013, David Beckham made his last move, signing a five-month deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 37-year old midfielder had just come off back-to-back title-winning seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy after previously taking league honors in England with Manchester United and in Spain with Real Madrid. Despite having one year left on his contract with Los Angeles, he announced in November 2012 that he was not returning.

He trained with Arsenal in January 2013, sparking rumors of a return to the Premier League, but signed with PSG on the last day of the winter transfer window. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Beckham announced that he would donate all of his salary to a children's charity.

Although he made only ten league appearances, he helped PSG claim their first league title since 1994, making him a champion in four different countries. He then retired at the end of the season.

30 January 2012 - That's One Way To Resolve A Dispute

On 30 January 2012, three-year old women's league WPS announced the suspension of its fourth season, which, as it turned out, was never played.

The USA's second attempt at a top-flight women's league, Women's Professional Soccer started play in 2009 with seven teams, including the Washington Freedom, the lone holdover from the previous league, WUSA. But financial problems plagued them, including the folding of 2009 champions Los Angeles after the end of the season.

Although two new teams joined for 2010, another team folded after only six games, followed at the end of the season by newly-crowned champions FC Gold Pride. Still another team left for a lower league, while Washington was bought by Dan Borislow and relocated to Florida as magicJack.

Borislow and the league clashed several times, with WPS alleging that his "unprofessional and disparaging treatment of his players to failure to pay his bills" was damaging to the league, then voting to terminate the franchise in October 2011. Borislow won reinstatement in a January 2012 court ruling, but rather than readmit him, WPS decided to suspend the season.

In May, the league officially ceased operations.

29 January 1950 - And People Say Draws Aren't Exciting

On 29 January 1950, a flurry of late goals led Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao to the highest-scoring draw in La Liga history.

At the time, both teams were challenging for the title. Hosts Madrid, playing in their first season under manager Helenio Herrera (pictured), were four points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Bilbao were five points back. The visitors struck first, with Agustín "Piru" Gaínza scoring in the first minute. But Madrid quickly rallied, taking a 2-1 lead into the break after goals from Henry Carlsson (3') and Larbi Benbarek (16').

In the second half, Bilbao surged back ahead with scores from Gaínza (47'), Rafael Iriondo (52', 57'), and Telmo Zarra (65') to take a 2-5 lead, then the teams swapped strikes from Madrid's Diego Lozano (68') and Iriondo (69') to push the margin to 3-6.

The score remained there until the 84th minute, when Madrid received a lifeline in the form of a penalty, duly converted by Benbarek. One minute later, José Lloret cut the margin to 5-6, then Madrid's Alfonso Aparicio scored with one minute left to set the final scoreline at 6-6.

The draw proved crucial, as Madrid went on to win the league by a single point over Deportivo de la Coruña. It was the first major honor for Herrera, who won La Liga with Madrid again the following season, then went on to claim multiple trophies with Barcelona, Inter, and Roma. But Bilbao didn't finish the year empty-handed, as they won the Copa del Rey over Real Valladolid.

28 January 2008 - A Record That Will Never Be Broken

On 28 January 2008, Francesco Totti was named Italian Footballer of the Year for a record fifth time.

The Italian Footballers' Association ("AIC") first announced the honor in 1997, along with additional superlatives including Best Serie A Footballer and Best Foreign Footballer. While the first award went to Sampdoria's Roberto Mancini, Totti was the recipient for 2000, in the middle of Roma's title-winning season, then again in 2001, 2003, and 2004.

Roma finished as runners-up to Inter in 2007 and won the Coppa Italia, due in large part to Totti, who ended the season as the league's top scorer with 26 goals (32 in all competitions). In 2007-08, they were again chasing Inter Milan for the Scudetto, sitting in second at the winter break, seven points behind the defending champions. (Roma eventually finished in second again, but closed the gap to three points in the final table).

The combined performance across both seasons led to Totti receiving the award for a fifth time, when no other player has received it more than twice (Christian Vieri in 1999 and 2002, then Alessandro del Piero in 1998 and 2008), though Milan's Kaká was named 2007 Serie A Footballer of the Year award.

In 2013, the AIC changed the format of their annual awards and no longer name an Italian Footballer of the Year or the other specific honors. Instead, they have a general Footballer of the Year award, claimed by Andrea Pirlo for 2013.

27 January 2013 - A Hat-Trick Perfected

On 27 January 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a perfect hat-trick in an 11-minute span as Real Madrid beat Getafe 4-0.

The defending champions, Real Madrid started the day in third, chasing Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for the league title. They had additional incentive to win in order to avenge their away loss to Getafe from August. Still, despite a handful of early chances, it took until the 54th minute for Real Madrid to take the lead with Sergio Ramos bundling the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.

Eight minutes later, Ronaldo doubled the lead with a left-footed shot that beat a defender and the keeper to the far post; the 300th goal of his club career. Then, in the 65th minute, he scored with a header to push the margin to 3-0. Finally, he added a 72nd-minute penalty, scored with his right foot to complete the perfect hat-trick.

Madrid went on to take 42 of 51 available points over the remainder of the season, but finished as runners-up to Barcelona.

26 January 1919 - Tottenham's Top Spur

On 26 January 1919, title-winning Tottenham player and manager Bill Nicholson was born in Scarborough.

Nicholson got his start with Spurs in 1936 working for the grounds staff. In 1938, he signed a professional contract with them and spent his entire career with the London club, making 214 league appearances before hanging up his boots in 1955. Along the way, he won the league title in 1951.

He joined the Tottenham coaching staff in 1955 and was the first-team coach in 1958 when then-manager Jimmy Anderson was sacked. At the time, Spurs were sixth from bottom of the First Division table. They finished the season at fifth from bottom, but Nicholson eventually turned the club around, winning the Double in 1961.

Nicholson went on to become one of Tottenham's most successful managers, winning two more FA Cups (1962, 1967), two League Cups (1971, 1973), the European Cup Winners' Cup (1963), and the UEFA Cup (1972). He took Spurs to the 1974 UEFA Cup Final, where they lost to Feyenoord, and resigned shortly afterward.

He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and passed away the following year.

25 January 1980 - It Beats Collecting Stamps, I Suppose

On 25 January 1980, Xavi Hernández, winner of the most trophies of any Spanish player in history, was born in Catalonian city of Terrassa.

Most of his trophies have come from his time with Barcelona. He has spent his entire career there, first joining them in 1991 as a youth player, then graduating to the first team in August 1998. That season, he won his first silverware as Barcelona claimed the league title. Over the next fourteen seasons, he established himself as one of the central pistons in the Barça engine while collecting another six league titles, three Champions League trophies, two Club World Cups, and two Copas del Rey. He also garnered several individual honors; he was named World Soccer Magazine's Player of the Year in 2010 and three straight La Liga Midfielder of the Year awards in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Along the way, he has made 130 appearances for Spain, adding the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships to his collection of silverware. At present, he has a record 24 titles, surpassing the previous record of 22 set by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.

He looks likely to continue expanding his list of honors, as Barcelona are currently on top of the table and Spain are among the favorites to win this summer's World Cup.